After ban on rallies, FIRs lodged against Azam Khan and Amit Shah

Lucknow/Rampur: BJP leader Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party's senior minister Azam Khan, who have been banned by the Election Commission from addressing public meetings and rallies in Uttar Pradesh, were today booked under different cases for violating model code of conduct while campaigning in the state. (Threats, personal attacks and Kargil: hate speeches under scrutiny)

While two FIRs or first information reports were lodged against Mr Shah for allegedly asking for votes on the grounds of caste and religion, one was filed against Mr Khan for his Kargil war remarks. (Muslims won Kargil for India: Azam Khan's comment under scrutiny)

Yesterday while announcing the ban, the poll panel had said the two leaders must be booked for making "highly inflammatory speeches." (India Votes 2014: full coverage)

Both Mr Shah and Mr Khan have sought a review of the ban. (Battle 2014: Track Live Updates)

"I will give my explanation to the Election Commission and will request for a review of the decision," Mr Shah told reporters today.

Mr Khan sounded more defiant. Speaking in Rampur, he said he "merely stated the facts" and called himself a "true nationalist". He also said the EC's step was "premature" and alleged that he was not given a chance to explain his stand.

In Ghaziabad on Tuesday, Mr Khan sparked a controversy by saying the Kargil war was won by Muslim soldiers. The panel has said that despite a notice sent to him, he was "still making derogatory and inflammatory statements."

Mr Khan has alleged that he is facing a ban and criminal charges as the Election Commission "had to strike a balance as they were anyway proceeding against Amit Shah."

Mr Shah, a close aide of the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, has already been booked for talking about "revenge" for the communal violence that tore through Muzaffarnagar last year. Mr Shah delivered the controversial speeches in Bijnor and Shamli, in the riot-scarred western UP region.